Cigar-banding machine



June 24, 1930., H. H. WHEEL EI R 1,765,811

. CIGAR BANDING'MACHINE Filed. July 1?, 1928 s Sheets-Sheet 1 6% ATTORNEY l W11: $1 1,- 14/ nl INVE'N OR Wfigwid W/ H. H. WHEELER 1,765,811

CIGAR BANDING MACHINE Filed July 17. 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 VE TO l ATTORNEY June 2 4, 1930.

June 24, 1930., H. .H. WHEELER CIGAR BANDING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet '5 Filed Jul 17, 1928 BY I I ATTORNEY Patented 'June 24, 1930 UNITED STATES- HENRY E.

PATENT OFFICE WHEELER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO INTERNATIONAL CIGAR MACHINERY COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY I CIGAR-IBANDING MACHINE Application filed .Tuly l' i, 1928. Serial No. 29336:.

This invention relates to cigar banding machines of the type designed to receive cigars and carry them past a device for wrapping bands around same and then eject same, automatically and rapidly. This machine is intended for use with a suitable automatic cigar feed, such as that described in my co-pending application S. N. 268,434,

filed April 9, 1928. 7

One of the principal objects of the present invention is ,to produce such a machine which will eject the cigars after banding with the same side up as" received, in order that the cigars may be repacked in the same position as originally packed in the cigar box. This is important because cigars are often banded after boxing, and being relatively brittle after remaining in boxes for .a while, unless they are repacked in their original positions, they will not go into the box without forcing, which is liable to injure the cigars. Another object of the invention is to provide a simple and compact turret and clamp structure for such a machine by which the cigars may be rotated as the turret revolves to maintain the same side of the cigar uppermost throughout its travel on the turret. Still another object of the invention is to provide im roved means for wrapping the bands smoot 1y andtightly about the ci ar, despite variations in the thickness and s ape of the band and-in the size of the cigar. Another object of the invention isto provide a simple and direct transfer device for transferring bands from a magazine to the banding device. With. these and other objects not specificallymentioned in view, the invention consists of certain constructions I and' combinations which will be hereinafter fully described and then specifically setforth in the appended claims. V

stacked, of a transfer arm which pulls out one band at a time from the magazine and, after passing its g'ummed endvover a moistenin drum, delivers it to the band folder whic in turn, takes it to and wraps it around the cigar held in the turret. Both the transfer arm and the band folder are provided with suction heads for holding the band, the suction being switched from the transfer arm to the carrier of the folder at the moment of delivery. After the band "is applied, the turret at its next step takes the banded cigar to the ejecting station, at which it is taken from the turret and placed on the delivery table, on which the cigars arrive int he same order and with the same side up as when originally taken from their box, the turret jaws being provided with planetary gears, coupled with a stationarysun gear, which cause them to partake of the Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same,

seen from line 2.2 of Fig. 1, and shown partly in cross section;

showing the band moistener, seen from line 33 of Fig. 1; V

Fi 4 is a fragmentary'top-viewshowing the b nd applying device-;- and Figs. 5 to 8 are diagrammatic views showing the band applying device in the successive stages of its operation.

' In carrying the invention into effect, there is provided an intermittentl rotating turret, 'a series of clamps pro ecting'from a side of said turret arranged to support I Fi 3 is a fragmentary side elevation' cigars perpendicular to the plane of rotation of the turret so that a substantial portion of the cigar extendsbeyond said clamps,

together with suitable means for succesively banding the extending parts of the cigars and means for operating the clamps receive and deliver the cigars respectlvely -prior to and after banding. In the best constructions, means are also-provided for spectively. The. conveyor 46 of the cigar I rotating the clamps with respect to the turfeed, whose sprocket 47 on shaft 48 1s drlvret to maintain the same side of each cigar en, through suitable means such as the up throughout its travel on the turret. ratchet and pawl disclosed in the above 5 Preferably the banding means will include mentioned co-pen'ding application, b a a flexible enwrapping member. The best crank 49 throu h a'rod 50 controlled y a constructions will also include means for lever 51 on a aft 52, which is rockedflby transferring bands from aband magazine to a cam lever 53 having a roller 54 in engage-, a banding device comprising a swinging ment with a cam 55 on the shaft 25', ad-

' lo arm, a leverpivoted-on said arm, a suction vances the cigars, one layer at a time tohead on one end of said lever arranged to wards the banding. machine turret 56 for coactwith the band in said magazine, I delivery one by. one into the cigar holders stationary cam acting on the lever to guide onsaid turret, by any suitable transfer the band on said head into the range of means such as that disclosed in the above 15 action of said device, on' swinging of the application. go arm. .Themeans above described may be The disk shaped turret 56 is.mounted on widely varied in construction within the a shaft 36 and carries pe endicularly proscope of the claims, for the particular ma- 'ecting from the side of t exturret a numchine selectedto illustrate the invention is her-of equally spaced cigar holders, each 20 but one of many possible embodiments of composed -of a rlgid lower jaw 57 and a 5 the same. The. invention,therefore, is not pivoted upper jaw 58, arranged to support to? be restricted to the'specific construction cigars perpendicular to the plane of revolushown and described. I f I tion of the turret." Thelower jaws 57 have I Referrin to Figs. 1 and 2, the framework. recessed hollow studs 59 which pass throu h 25 of the mac ine consists of two end frames and are rotatably mounted on turret 56, t e- 90 10 and 11, 'oined on top bya frame 12 cigars being supported coaxially within and at the ottom by a tieframe '13, by these studs. These studs are rotated from which it is fastened to the sub-structure'14, the movement of the turret by a planetary The end frames 10 and 11 support the tu'rgear system consisging of' the planet ears so ret shaft,.drive shaft, transmission shafts, 60 fixed to the stu s and meshmg wit in- 95 camshafts and fulcrum shafts, and the top termediate gears 61 on studs 62- mounted" on frame 12 carriesthe band a plying mechaturret 56, the gears 61 in turn meshing with nism, band magazine, trans er lever, moisa stationary sun gear 63 on a.. sleeve 64 tener and suction control. I which is clamped to the end frame'IO by a 36 Power from a belt 15 is transmitted to nut 65 and which carries the bearing sleeves 100 .aclut'ch pulley 16 on a drive shaft 17 which for the turret shaft 36. The ears 60 and has a PlIllOIl 18 in mesh with a gear 19, 63, being made of the same 'ameter, the i which is loose on a stud 20 and turns a pinholders 57 on the forward rotation of the ion 21 attached to it. The pinion 21, in turret are turned back by an equal annular 40 turn, drives tafgear 22 on a shaft 23. The amount so that the cigarslheld in them re- '10s gear 22 meshes with a gear 24 on .a cam main in the same relative position and are a shaft 25 which, by means of a pinion '26, carried around the turret in a parallel 1110- drives a gear 27 on a cam shaftc 28. On tion and the side that was uppermost when the end of the cam shaft 23 is mounted the cigar was received remains uppermost #5 :a disc 29, the hub ofwhich has an arm 30 throughout the travel of the ci argon theno.

carrying a driving roller 31, which turns a turret. The upper jaws 58 of t e holders .Geneva stopmwheel 32 mounted on stud 33, are pinned to the horizontally dis osed long the disc 29 mg suitably cut awa to form arms of bell crank levers 66, the at axially the lock for the geneva 32. 'Attac ed to the extending end surfaces of which bear upon 59 geneva, and-turning with it, is a spur gear flat springs 67 attached to' the jaws, thereby 115 34 in mesh with a gear 35 which drives a holding the'jaws 58 in their horizontal pos1- turret shaft-36 in a step-b -step motion in tion and still giving them suflicient resili accordance with thestepso the Genevastop ency to accommodate themselves to varia; 32. I I I tions in the position and shapes of the I The cigars bebanded are preferably ci ars. 120 fed to the cigar holding clamps on the tun- 0 open and closev the jaws 58, the bell -ret by the feedfmechamsm described in the crank leversf66 are pivoted in the. lugs 68 application above referred. to, which feeds onthe base forming part ofthe lower' jaws I the contents of a clgar box layer by "layer. 57 and, their vertically'proj'ecting short arms However the cigars may be fed by other. are pinned to rods 69 which pass through 125 means or by hand. The saidafeed mechathe studs 59 and whose heads fit into recesses nism is operated-by rods 37 and{'38 conof said studs and project from the end of 1 1 trolled b I cam levers 39. and 40 fulcrumed thetur-ret. .In the recesses of Studs59 are v on a sha '41 and having the rollers 42 and placed coil springs .70 which bear against 43 in engagement with cams 44 and 45, re-. the shoulders of the headsof the-rods 69 and a new cigar is being delivered into the diametrically opposite holder, levers 71, fast on' a shaft 72 in bearing brackets 73, are

I turned by an arm @74- attached to a rod 75 out from the bottom of the stack one by one,

actuated by a cam lever 76 fulcrumed on a shaft 77 and having a roller 78 in engagement with a cam 79 on the shaft 23, thereby pushing against the resiliently held rods 69 which thus open the jaws 58 of these two holders long enough to receive or deliver a cigar.

Upon each cigar holder, bearing against the inside face of the turret disk 56, there is slidably mounted a hollow rectangular frame 80 (Fig. 2), which on its flanged lower .edge carries an axially projecting flat spring 81, the free end of which extends beyond the holder jaws to the point on the cigar at which the band is to be applied. The frames 80 are drawn upwards by springs 82 fastened to the pivotvpins in lugs 68, so that normally the ends of springs 81 bear against the undersides of the cigars carried in the holders. When a band is being applied in the uppermost position of the turret, a roller 83 at the end of a lever 84 fulcrumed on a stud 85 in lugs 86 of the top frame 12 and actuated by a rod 87 controlled by a cam lever 88, on a shaft 89,

having a roller 90 in engagement with a cam 91 on a shaft 25, pushes down on the frame 80, thereb holding the spring 81 clear of the cigar an permitting the band to be folded around it,.the spring 81 on its return to normal position closing up and sealing the overlap ing ends of the band.

The ban applying mechanism (Figs. 1 to 4) is mounted on the top frame 12. Y The band magazine consists of two vertical end-v frames 92 connected by the right and left threaded horizontal screw 93 which is held in the block 94 and by which their distance can be adjusted to the length of the band B to be used. Each end frame has a loose side plate 95 hinged on a threaded pin 96 enabling difl'erentwidths of bands to which it is set by the nuts 97 on the threaded ends of pins 96. In Fig. 4, one of these side plates is shown in opened position by dotted lines.

The bands which are placed in the magazine with the gummed side down, are taken as each cigarvarrives in the top position on the turret, by the transfer lever 98, provided at one end with a suction head 98, which holds'them by suction and carries them into positionto be folded around the-cigar, leavmg each band suspended from the suction head hereinafter described, of a carrier 99 of the banding device before going hack for the next. For this purpose, both the the magazine to be adjusted to loosely mounted on a shaft 109, is controlled by a roller engaging the cam 90 on the shaft 23, The plunger 103 switches the suction of a tube 111, which is connected to a suction pump or other exhaust means, from tube 100 to 101 and back at the moment when arm 98 holds the band.

The transfer lever 98 is nlamped to a stud 112 journalledmin an arm 1'13 on a shaft 114 and has an extension 115 carrying a roller 116, which engages the track of a stationary cam 117 mountedon the frame 12. The shaft 114 has a fixed arm 118 which-is connected by a rod 119 with an arm 120 "onthe shaft 109, the motion of which is controlled by a cam 121 on the shaft 23 through a lever 122 having a roller 123, thus causing the transfer arm 98 to move into the dotted position shown in Fig. 2, with the band in a horizontal plane above the cigar parallel to its plane in the magazine.

On its way into. this position, the gummed end of the band carried by the transfer lever wipes over the drum 124 of a moistener 125, shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, which lever 131 and a link' 132 to a lug 133 of a reciprocating slide 134, thereby-turning the drum 124. The lever 131 engages with a stud 128 through a number of rollers confined in-inclined vpockets of its hub, .so that the drum 124 can turn in one direction only, standing still when the lever moves back in the opposite direction and'thus p'artakes in a step-by-step forward motion presenting a-new moistening surfade to each sueceedlng band.

'When the band B has been delivered into I folding position, above the cigar C in the.

turret, it is held by the suction of the. car- 'rier 99 against the flexible enwrapping member 135, which is perforated at its center to allow passage of air andwhich 'is stretched .across folding .fingers 136 by springs 137 attached to pins 138 in a slide 134. The folding fingers 136, which are provided with rollers at their bends and at their free ends for the" flexible member 135 to rest on, are pivoted on studs 139 in the slide 134 and are held in tension by a spring. 140 hooked across their upper ends which extend beyond the pivots. In a lug,

pro ecting inwardly from its pivot, each finger carries an adjustable'stop screw 141, one of. which is set in advance of the other, so that when the fingers are carried downwards by the slide 134, the longer screw comes into engagement with the stop 142 attached toracket 143 .on the under side of frame 12 efore the shorter screw is arrested b meansv o a. link 144, is attached to a lever 145 mounted on a'shaft 146 in the frame 12, the said shaft carrying an arm 147 actuated by a rod 148 connected to a,cam lever 149 on the shaft 89, having a roller 150 in engagement with'cam 151 on the shaft 25.

The operation ofthe banding device is shown in Figs. 5 to 8. The band B, hav

. ing been brought to the folding fingers wards over the cigar C, thereby causing the flexible member 135 to enwrap the cigar, folding the band B tightl .and smoothly over .the top and down t e sides of the same, as shown in Fig. 6. Having arrived in the position shown in thelatter figure,

' the longer of the stop screws 141 is just being engaged by .the stop 142 so that upon the further down movement of the slide 134, the corresponding finger 136 now moves inward, thereby caus in one end of the band B to be folded over t e under side f, thevq gerwCna rseen in Figwhich shows the position in which the shorter'of the screws 141 is coming into contact with spring 81 which has thus 'farbeen held the stop plate .142. Thereafter, upon the continuation of the downward motion, both fi ers move inwardt'owards'each other complete the folding ofthe band entirely around the cigar, whereupon the away from the ci ar 'by rod 87 and lever trollin stop screws 141 also forms the lower 84 topermit the olding-movement of theband, is brought up by the springs -82 and v vpresses the ends of the band to ether, as shown in Fig. 8. The gum on e end of the band, having been moistened when passing over drum 124 while being transferred by arm 98, the upward pressure'of spring '81 seals therband upon the cigar and the spring remaining in its up-position until the cigar is discharged from the turret, holds 'it closed until dry.

The stop plate 142 for the finger conguide or the carrier 99, the upper guide 152 being attached to the top of frame 12. A fstop 153 is provided. on carrier 99,""which the same. The slide 134, by'

comes to rest on guide 152, as shown in Fig. 7, at the moment when the band comes in contact with the cigar, that is, in a position of the slide 134 a part of the way down between the positions shown in Figs. 5 and 6. It remains in this position duringsthe entire folding operation, its object being to prevent the weight of the carrier from resting on the cigar and thereby causing damage to the same. around the carrier below the fixed collar 155 A weak coil spring 154 placed keeps the carrier in tension in its up position, .so that" its suction head 156 'bears against the lower guide plate 142 when the.

transfer arm 98 delivers a band to the same.

To prevent damage tothe cigar from pressure on its unsupported end while the band is being applied, the head of the cigar, C is supported by an arm ,157 pivoted in the frame 11 and connected by a rod 158 with alever 159 clamped to a shaft 77 which, as

previously described, is actuated through the cam lever 76 by cam 79.

The banded cigar is ejected from the turret upon its arrivalat the delivery stationv which is located at the horizontal center line of the turret, diametrically opposite to the armt163 controlled thr ough a roller 164 rom a cam 165 on the shaft 23. To the slide 160 is attached an angle piece 166 which, by each backward stroke of the slide, is brought in .a position behind the descending cigar holder of the turret, so that the next forward stroke of the slide will, on the release of the holding jaw by lever 71, move forward (to the right as shown'in Fig. 1) between the the turret.

The cigars having been kept top'up by the holder planet gears while going through the turret, they will be in the same position when finally delivered on table 161 as they were placed on the feed'conveyor 46, and can therefore be replaced in theirbriginal position into the box from which they were taken.

What is claimed is: I

1. In a cigar banding machine in comb-ination, an intermittently rotating turret, a series of clamps projecting from aside of said turret and arranged to support cigars perpendicular to the plane of rotation there,- of and with a substantial portion of the cigar extending beyond said clamps, separate means for successively banding said extending parts of the cigars, and means for operating said clampsto. receive and deliver the cigars respectively before and after banding; \7

jaws and thus eject the cigar from 2. In a cigar banding machine in combination, an intermittently rotating turret, a series of clamps projecting from a side of said turret and arranged to support cigars perpendicular to the plane of rotation thereof and with a substantial portion of the cigar extending beyond said clamps, separate means for successively banding said extending parts of the cigars, means for oper. ating said clamps to receive and deliver the cigars respectively before and after banding, and means cooperating with the clamps to cause the same to deliver the cigars with the same side up as when received.

3. In a cigar banding machine in combination, an intermittently rotating turret, a series of clamps projecting from a side of said turret and arranged to support cigars perpendicular to the plane of rotation thereof and with a substantial portion of the cigar extending beyond said clamps, means for successively banding said extending parts of the cigars, means for operating saidclaln(ps to receive and deliver the cigars respectively before and after banding, and means for rotating said clamps with respect to the turret to maintain the same side of the cigars up throughout itstravel on the turret.

4. In a cigar banding machine in combination, an intermittently rotating turret, a

series of clamps projecting from'a side of said turret and arranged to support cigars perpendicular to the plane'of rotation thereof and with a substantial portion of the cigar extending beyond said clamps, separate means for successively banding said extending parts of the cigars, and means for operating said clamps to receive and deliver the cigars respectively before and after banding, said banding-means including a flexible enwrapping member.

5. In a cigar banding machine in combina tion, an intermittently rotating turlret, a series of clamps projecting from a side of said turret and arranged to support cigars perpendicular to the plane of rotation there! of and with a substantial portion of the cigar extending beyond said clamps, means'for successively banding said extending parts of the cigars, and means for operating said,

clamps to receive and deliver the cigars respectively before and after banding, said banding means including means fof supporting the extending end of said cigar uring the banding operation.

.6, In a cigar banding machine in combination, an intermittently rotating turret, a series of clamps on said turret for support- 1n sald cigars, means for operating said clamps to receive and deliver cigars respectively before and aftersaid' banding and means for rotating said clamps to maintain the cigars, means for successively banding same side of said cigars up throughout their travel on' the turret. w

-7. In a cigar banding machine in combination, an intermittently rotating turret, a series of clamps on said turret for supporting cigars, means for successively banding said cigars, means for operating said clamps to receive and deliver cigars respectively before and after said banding and means for rotating said clamps to maintain the same side of said cigars up throughout their travel on the'turret, said banding means including a flexible enwrapping member.

8. In' a cigar banding machine in combination, an intermittently; rotating turret, a

series of clamps on said turret for supporting cigars, means for successively banding said cigars, means for operating said clamps to receive and, deliver cigars respectively before and after said bandin and means for rotatingsaid clamps to mamtain the same side of said cigars up throughout their travel on the turret, said rotating means including a planetary gear system operated by the rotation of said turret.

9. In a cigar banding machine in combinaand means for rotating said stud and saidclamp.

of jaws for holding a cigar, a base for carryingsaid jaws, means supporting said base for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the cigar, a bell crank lever pivoted on said supporting means with an arm supporting one of said jaws for movement toward and away from the other jaw, and means acting on' the other arm of said lever for operating said jaw. I 11. A carrier for cigars comprisin a pair of jaws for holding a cigar, a base or carrying said jaws, means supporting said base for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the cigar, a bell crank lever pivoted on said supporting means with an arm supporting one of said jaws for movement toward and awa from the other aw, and means acting on t e other arm'of s id lever for operatingsaid jaw, said jaw operating means includ-i ing a plunger connected to said lever and ex-' tending axially through-said support.

-12. Means for transferring bands from a magazine toa banding device comprising a swinging arm, a lever pivoted on said arm.

105' 10. A carrier for clgars comprlsing a pair zine, a stationary cam acting on the lever to:

" parallel planes.

a suction head on one end oi said lever ararranged to coact with a band in said magaguide a band. on said head into the range ofaction of said device, on swinging of the arm.

13. Means for t-F'an sferringbands from a magazine to a banding device comprising a swinging arm, a lever pivoted 0n-sa1d arm, a suction head on one end of said lever arranged to coact with a band in said maga zine, a stationary cam acting on the lever to guide a band on said head into the range of action of said device, on swinging of the arm, said. cam and lever cooperating to cause the head to receive and deliver the-bands in In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this s ecification.

ENRY H. WHE LER. 

